The Israeli American Council will open chapters across the US, offering support to local organizations and initiatives.

The Israeli American Council announced this week that it will open chapters
across the US, offering support to local organizations and initiatives that
represent Israeli-Americans who reside in the US.

The council, which aims
to “build an active and giving Israeli-American community in order to strengthen
the State of Israel,” so far has been mainly basing its activities in
California.

As part of the initiative, supported programs would include
cultural, educational, advocacy and social activities for all age
groups.

According to the IAC, the number of Israeli-Americans and their
children residing in the US may range between 500,000-1,000,000 people who live
in three main areas: Los Angeles, New York/New Jersey and Florida.

The
organization reported that additional communities are spread across major
cities, including Chicago, San Francisco and the Bay area, San Diego, Portland,
Seattle, Phoenix, Las Vegas, Denver, Dallas, Boston, Atlanta, Cleveland,
Philadelphia, Washington, DC, and Baltimore.

The IAC, founded in 2007 by
a group of Israeli-American businessmen and women in Los Angeles, works to
create an active, influential and bipartisan political voice for Israeli-
American and pro-Israel communities in order to strengthen the relationship
between the State of Israel and the US and to preserve the Jewish way of life
and Israeli culture of second and third generation
Israeli-Americans.

Some of the current programs operated by the council
include: Recruiting thousands for pro-Israel rallies; financing the Israeli
emissaries at all major university campuses in Southern California; organizing
and funding mass events for the community in California; as well as Hebrew
programs for children and Israel advocacy and leadership activities for young
Jewish-American adults.

IAC chairman Shawn Evenhaim explained in a
statement that in the first five years of the expansion plan, eight local IAC
chapters will be founded in the eight largest communities of Israeli-
Americans.

“All chapters will follow the same vision and mission
statement, will be steered by local boards and will be supported by the national
headquarters,” Evenhaim said. “We plan to create a variety of programs and
activities for all age groups as well as the community at large, so each chapter
will be able to select which programs and activities will best fit its
community.”

“We are starting to identify leadership in Israeli-American
communities across the country to assist us in the establishment of the national
and local IAC boards of directors,” he continued.

“A primary reason for
the IAC’s expansion effort is the critical need to embark on a major campaign
within Israeli- American communities to ensure that Israeli-Americans and their
children: continue their best efforts to strengthen the relationship between the
State of Israel and the US; remain connected to the Israeli people and their
culture; and maintain their Jewish identity and stay committed to their Jewish
values and their heritage,” chairman of the IAC’s expansion committee, Adam
Milstein added.

The IAC has grown rapidly in recent years. According to
CEO Sagi Balasha, the organization reached over 50,000 people this year through
its events and programs. The council supports 21 organizations affiliated with
its goals and objectives.

The Jerusalem Post Customer Service Center can be contacted with any questions or requests:
Telephone: *2421 * Extension 4 Jerusalem Post or 03-7619056 Fax: 03-5613699E-mail: subs@jpost.com
The center is staffed and provides answers on Sundays through Thursdays between 07:00 and 14:00 and Fridays only handles distribution requests between 7:00 and
13:00
For international customers: The center is staffed and provides answers on Sundays through Thursdays between 7AM and 6PM
Toll Free number in Israel only 1-800-574-574
Telephone +972-3-761-9056
Fax: 972-3-561-3699
E-mail: subs@jpost.com